Insect destroyer



Nov. 24, 1942. A. ROOT 2,302,803

INSECT DESTROYER I Filed March 13, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A Home N@v. 24,1942.- A, Rom 2,302,803

INSECT DESTROYER I Filed March 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A Ito rue Nov 24, 1942.

. A. ROOT 2,302,803 INSECT DESTROYER Filed March 15, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mun . IHH.

W Hum 1 fig Inventor J] ,0 fial ay /as flap? W v Q 33 0 are v Attorney Patented Nev. 24, 1942 INSECT DESTROYER Adolphus Root, Wheeler, Mich, assignor of onehalf to C. W. Lanshaw, Wheeler, Mich.

Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,221

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in insect destroyers and more particularly to a device for attracting and executin corn borers and various other crop destructive insects.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby insects will be attracted from growing crops and which will serve to electrically execute insects when they come in contact with the exposed electrical conductor elements thereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which can be readily set up and which will be substantially foolproof in operation.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the intermediate portion of the apparatus, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in an upward direction.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing one corner of the executing apparatus.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the positive and negative conductors.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the device has four or more leg members 5 preferably of angle iron. The lower portions of these legs 5 are braced by crossed bars 6 suitably secured to the legs.

Numeral 1 denotes a platform upwardly through the corner portions of which the legs 5 project for a substantial distance. The upper ends of the legs 5 are bridged by angle members, 8, and to the outwardly disposed flanges thereof a cover plate or roof 9 is secured. At the edge portions of the platform 1 extend angle members l0 having outwardly disposed flanges and interposed between the outstanding flanges of the angle members 8 and the angle members III are vertically disposed tubes l l of insulation through which tie rods l2 extend. Thes tie rods extend downwardly through openings in the roof 9, angle members 8, tubes II, angle members It) and the edge portions of the platform 1, where the rods I2 are threaded and equipped with nuts l3. These tubes ll of insulation can be arranged at the corners of the platform 1 and at intermediate points along the sides thereof as suggested in Figure 2.

The platform 1 has an opening in the central portion thereof which is normally closed by a hinged door l4 having a handle IS. A pivotal latch I6 is employed to normally maintain the door l4 closed.

When the door I4 is opened, access can be had to a bulb l1 mounted in a socket l8, the latter being secured to the underside of the roof 9.

A denotes an electric cord having a plug B through which extends positive and negative wires 20 and 2|. Secured to the bottom side of the platform 1 is a fuse socket 22 containing a fuse 23. A switch generally referred to by numeral 24 is mounted on the bottom of the platform 1 and has a switch blade 25 which is engageabl-e with contacts 26, 21 or with a dead contact 28. The blade 25 has a pivotal mount 29 to which the positive wire 20 of the cord A connects. Numeral 30 denotes a wire extending from the contact 21 to one side of the lamp socket l8, while numeral 3| denotes a conductor wire extending from the other side of the lamp socket l8 to one side of the fuse socket 22. A conductor 32 extends from the other side of the fuse socket, is bared and is disposed upwardly and trained horizontally around the cage formed of the upright posts II. A bare conductor wire 33 extends upwardly from the contact .26 and is also trained around the tubes ll between the bare conductor wires 32. The wires 32 and 33 as they are trained about the tubes II are in close parallel spaced relation just far enough apart to permit a given insect to squeeze itself between. Obviously as the insect contacts opposed wires 32 and 33 a charge of electricity will pass through its body sufiicient to kill it. It is submitted that a charge of electricity sufficient to kill an insect would only be mildly n0- ticed by a human being, so, therefore, the apparatus would not be dangerous to humans.

The apparatus is particularly used at night when corn borers do their devastating work and the purpose of the lamp I1 is to attract these insects to the apparatus.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of th invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a device of the class described, a pair of upper and lower rectangular plates vertically spaced apart and parallel, corner posts supporting said plates and extending through the lower plate to said upper plate, said plates extending outwardly beyond said posts to provide upper and lower ledges around the same, a pair of upper and lower rectangular frames surrounding said 10 posts and extending laterally therefrom along the upper and lower ledges, respectively, between the same, upright corner sleeves of insulation fitting between said frames outwardly of said posts, tie rods extending through said ledges, frames and sleeves to secure the plates, frames and sleeves in clamped together relation, and grid forming wires extending between said sleeves and trained around the same.

ADOLPHUS ROOT. 

